Mark Pritchard MP: written questions
202 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Mzia AmaglobeliForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Georgian counterpart on the detention of the Mzia Amaghlobeli.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary and I have consistently raised our concerns about the violence used by the authorities against protesters and journalists in the course of ongoing protests in Georgia. We will continue to do so. Mzia Amaghlobeli's detention is anothe...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirlines: CompetitionDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase competition among airlines operating in the UK.
Answer: The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviatio...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirlines: CompetitionDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to commission an investigation into trends in the level of competition amongst airlines flying in and out of UK airports.
Answer: The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviatio...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure domestic companies with UK-based shareholdings are prioritised to offer (a) ground and (b) air services for potential expansions at (i) Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports.
Answer: The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviatio...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIntimate Image Abuse: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will ensure that law enforcement agencies have sufficient resources and training to identify and prosecute creators of non-consensual deepfake content.
Answer: Non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes are degrading and harmful. We refuse to tolerate the violence against women and girls that stains our society, which is why we’ve brought forward legislation in the Data (Use and Access) Bill to ban their creatio...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIntimate Image Abuse: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will implement stronger penalties for creating non-consensual deepfake content.
Answer: Government is committed to tackling the harm posed by the creation of non-consensual intimate images. We are bringing forward legislation to criminalise this behaviour in the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The new legislation will ensure that offenders face ...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEstate Agents: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will undertake a review of the estate agency sector to assess the effectiveness of existing legislation on ensuring (a) transparency in pricing, (b) accurate descriptions
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents.Legislation is currently enforced by National Trading Standards’ Lettings and Estate Agency Team, who have the po...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to require imports of (a) meat, (b) dairy and (c) eggs to meet the same animal welfare standards as the UK.
Answer: The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. Unfortunately, it inherited trade deals signed by the Conservative government that created unfair disadvantages for British farmers. ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: DetaineesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help end the detention of OSCE officials (a) Vadym Golda, (b) Maxim Petrov and (c) Dmytro Shabanov by the Russian Federation.
Answer: The UK continues to advocate for the immediate release of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) officials Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, including at ministerial level, alongside the OSCE Secretary General and the...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational SecurityHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that the devolved parliaments and assemblies have sufficient resources to (a) detect, (b) deter and (c) prosecute any malign State activities s
Answer: The Defending Democracy Taskforce regularly engages and works with devolved Governments and Parliaments on threats facing our democracy including foreign interference.This includes supporting the delivery of cyber security advice which makes available exp...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAfrica: RussiaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the role of Russia's Africa Corps in the migration of people from (a) sub-Saharan Africa and (
Answer: Russian proxies such as Africa Corps contribute to conflict and instability in parts of Africa, increasing displacement of local populations.The UK is working with African and international partners to strengthen regional security, build resilience and ad...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIntelligence Services: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for the security service in the context of existing and emerging state and non-state threats to the UK’s national security.
Answer: Keeping the country safe is the first duty of government. MI5 has a key role to play alongside SIS, GCHQ and the rest of the UK’s national security and law enforcement community in achieving that.The Chancellor confirmed in the Autumn Budget on 13 October...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Self-harmDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce rates of self-harm by people who work in (a) farming and (b) other agricultural industries.
Answer: Defra has set up a dedicated team to look at the particular set of issues driving poor mental health outcomes in the farming and agricultural sector. We will be working in consultation with communities, farming support organisations and experts across the...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: StaffordshireHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure sufficient recruitment of retained firefighters in Shropshire.
Answer: Firefighters play a vital role in keeping the public safe and I am grateful for the work undertaken by fire and rescue services across the country in support of their local communities.The Government is committed to ensuring fire and rescue services have ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWest Mercia Police: Special ConstablesHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to help West Mercia Police recruit more special constables in rural communities.
Answer: The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities saf...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Performance Related PayHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing performance-related pay for Chief Constables based on (a) rates of crime reduction and (b) crime outcomes including (i) charges an
Answer: PCCs and Mayors with PCC functions, as the locally elected representative for policing, are responsible for holding Chief Constables to account for their performance and that of their force. This government will continue to work with PCCs and chief consta...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of Integrated Care Boards in England which have a Fracture Liaison Service.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.Data for integrated care systems (ICS) is available from the FLS Database, a national audit of secon...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of Integrated Care Boards in England have a Fracture Liaison Service.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.Data for integrated care systems (ICS) is available from the FLS Database, a national audit of secon...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time taken for medical examiners to issue death certificates.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, including the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Regulations 2024, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a de...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of VAT on school fees on the shared provision of (a) SEND support, (b) sporting facilities and (c) SEND school transport between the independent and state
Answer: The government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.At the Autumn Budg...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: TelecommunicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage train operating companies to improve on-train connectivity for (a) voice and (b) data services.
Answer: Department for Transport officials are working closely with the train operating companies and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to develop proposals to improve passenger mobile connectivity.
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Labour TurnoverDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a strategy to improve the retention of teaching staff in schools.
Answer: The within school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcome is high-quality teaching. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is therefore critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAntidepressantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with NHS England to review the (a) volume and (b) type of antidepressants prescribed on the NHS and their (i) side effects, (ii) long-term effectiveness and (iii) addictivenes
Answer: The National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are the relevant regulatory bodies in this area. While antidepressants can be helpful for some patients, NICE guidance recommends a range o...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAdvertising: ChildrenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Broadcasting Code by Ofcom on reducing the sexualisation of children through broadcast advertising.
Answer: The Advertising Standards Authority co-regulates broadcast advertising under contract with Ofcom and its sister organisation, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), sets the advertising codes. The codes require that advertisements must no...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMen: PublicityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28904More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will take steps to promote positive male role models.
Answer: We recognise that strong role models can be key in inspiring others, and in challenging harmful stereotypes. My officials work closely with male business leaders and campaigners to help make the case that steps to improve equality benefit everyone. They a...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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